For hundreds of years lovers everywhere have celebrated Valentines Day. Where did this tradition start and why do we exchange Valentine’s Day flowers and candies with each other? I have already had published here a full article on the accepted history of St. Valentine but there are some other interesting stories that go along with this tradition. Some may be true and others may be myths but they are all fascinating. So here we go with what might have really been the beginning of sending Valentines Day flowers on Valentines Day.

Why was St. Valentine so important?
About 8 hundred years before Valentines Day was established a man named Claudius II was in power in Rome. He felt that marriage was a bad thing because it made poor soldiers out of men. So, he banned marriage from his empire. A Christian soldier called Valentinus (Valentine) did not agree with this rule, so he would secretly marry couples that came to him. Valentine was caught and soon after he was stoned and then beheaded. His martyrdom caused him to be made a saint.

Valentine Traditions
In Wales wooden love spoons were carved and given as gifts on February 14th. Hearts, keys and keyholes were favourite decorations on the spoons. The decoration meant, “You unlock my heart!”

In the Middle Ages, young men and women drew names from a bowl to see who their valentines would be. They would wear these names on their sleeves for one week. To wear your heart on your sleeve now means that it is easy for other people to know how you are feeling.

In some countries, a young woman may receive a gift of clothing from a young man. If she keeps the gift, it means she will marry him.

Some people used to believe that if a woman saw a robin flying overhead on Valentine’s Day, it meant she would marry a sailor. If she saw a sparrow, she would marry a poor man and be very happy. If she saw a goldfinch, she would marry a millionaire. (Darn. Where can I find a goldfinch before the 14th?)

A love seat is a wide chair. It was first made to seat one woman and her wide dress. Later, the love seat or courting seat had two sections, often in an S-shape. In this way, a couple could sit together — but not
too closely!

No matter what is true and what is myth, Valentines Day has become big business for the flower, card, and candy companies. Many exist only because of this one day a year. If you’re man and you have a wife or girlfriend (or both – very naughty), and you let Valentines Day go by without getting her flowers or candy, you are going to be in big trouble. Take my advice and put some effort into your gift, too. A carefully chosen Valentine’s Day card will take you a long way; take it from a woman who knows. However, Valentines Day flowers are still your best bet.

If you’re lucky enough to have someone who loves you on Valentine’s Day, then you should show him or her how much they mean to you. Those who give Valentine’s Day flowers certainly do contribute to the big money making machine for the florists but this day allows those of you who are not always able to show their loved ones how much they care-how much they really do.

I hope the tradition will always be with us no matter how much it costs.